How to Use “Lo que” in Spanish to Say What or the Thing That

Introduction

Learning to use lo que in Spanish is an essential skill for intermediate learners who want to express themselves more naturally and fluently. This versatile construction allows you to say what, the thing that, or which thing in a way that sounds natural to native speakers. Whether you’re describing your favorite hobby, explaining what you need, or talking about what happened, lo que will become one of your most useful tools for more sophisticated Spanish communication. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how this grammatical structure works, when to use it, and how it differs from other similar constructions.

What Is “Lo que” and Why It Matters

Lo que is a relative pronoun construction in Spanish that functions as a single unit to mean what or the thing that. Unlike its English equivalent, lo que doesn’t refer to a specific noun that was previously mentioned. Instead, it refers to an entire idea, concept, or something that hasn’t been explicitly stated yet. This makes it incredibly useful for adding depth and complexity to your Spanish sentences.

The structure consists of the neuter article lo combined with the relative pronoun que. The word lo is what makes this construction special. It’s a neuter article that doesn’t refer to a masculine or feminine noun, but rather to something abstract or undefined. When combined with que, it creates a powerful grammatical tool that Spanish speakers use constantly in everyday conversation.

Basic Usage and Structure

The fundamental structure of lo que is straightforward: lo que + verb or adjective. Let’s look at some simple examples to understand how this works in practice.

One of the most common uses is in the pattern: No entiendo lo que dices. This means I don’t understand what you’re saying. Here, lo que introduces the entire clause dices (you’re saying), and the whole phrase what you’re saying becomes the object of the verb entender (to understand).

Another example: Me encanta lo que haces. This translates to I love what you do or I love the thing that you do. In this case, lo que encompasses your entire action or profession, whatever it may be.

The beauty of lo que is that it allows you to talk about something without needing to specify exactly what that something is. This is why native speakers use it so frequently—it’s efficient and natural.

Using “Lo que” as a Direct Object

One of the most common functions of lo que is to serve as the direct object of a sentence. In this position, lo que receives the action of the verb.

Example: Hago lo que puedo. This means I do what I can. Here, lo que is the direct object of the verb hacer (to do). The speaker is doing something—whatever they can manage to do.

Another example: Ella compra lo que necesita. This translates to She buys what she needs. In this sentence, lo que is the direct object of compra (buys), referring to whatever items are necessary.

Example: Estudiamos lo que el profesor recomienda. We study what the professor recommends. Here, lo que encompasses all the materials or subjects that the professor suggests.

Using “Lo que” as the Subject of a Sentence

Lo que can also function as the subject of a sentence, meaning it’s doing the action rather than receiving it. This usage is particularly common in Spanish and sounds very natural to native ears.

Example: Lo que me preocupa es el dinero. This means What worries me is the money. Here, lo que serves as the subject—the thing that worries the speaker is money.

Another example: Lo que importa es la salud. This translates to What matters is health. In this case, lo que (health considerations or the importance of health) is the subject, and importa (matters) is the verb.

Example: Lo que pasó ayer fue increíble. What happened yesterday was incredible. Here, lo que introduces everything that occurred yesterday as the subject of the sentence.

Using “Lo que” in Questions

Spanish speakers frequently use lo que to ask questions, though with an interesting twist. When asking what someone did or what something is, Spanish uses a different construction than English might suggest.

Example: ¿Qué es lo que quieres? This means What is it that you want? or simply What do you want? Many Spanish speakers prefer this construction because it emphasizes and clarifies what is being asked.

Another example: ¿Lo que me dices es verdad? This translates to Is what you’re telling me true? This construction turns a statement into a question while using lo que to highlight the specific thing being questioned.

Note that while you could simply ask ¿Qué quieres?, using lo que in this construction adds emphasis and is very common in conversational Spanish.

“Lo que” Versus Other Relative Pronouns

To truly master lo que, it’s helpful to understand how it differs from other relative pronouns in Spanish like que, quien, and el que.

The key difference between lo que and que is that que typically refers to a specific noun mentioned previously. For example: El libro que compré es excelente. (The book that I bought is excellent.) Here, que refers specifically to the noun libro (book).

However, lo que doesn’t refer to a specific noun. It refers to an idea or concept. Compare: Lo que compré es excelente. (What I bought is excellent.) In this case, lo que refers to the entire idea of whatever was purchased, not to any specific object.

Quien typically refers to people, while lo que can refer to ideas, actions, or abstract concepts. Example: La persona quien me ayudó versus Lo que él hizo fue importante.

El que and lo que are sometimes interchangeable, but there are subtle differences. El que tends to refer to something more specific or already implied, while lo que is more general and abstract.

Common Expressions Using “Lo que”

Spanish speakers use lo que in numerous fixed expressions and common phrases that you’ll hear regularly in conversation.

One popular expression is Lo que pasa es que… This means The thing is… or What happens is that… Example: Lo que pasa es que no tengo tiempo. (The thing is that I don’t have time.)

Another common phrase is Lo que es seguro es que… This translates to What is certain is that… or Certainly… Example: Lo que es seguro es que vendrá. (What’s certain is that he’ll come.)

You’ll also hear ¿Sabes lo que? This means Do you know what? and is used to introduce interesting information or gossip. Example: ¿Sabes lo que? María se va a vivir a Madrid. (Do you know what? María is moving to Madrid.)

The expression lo que sea means whatever or anything. Example: Haré lo que sea para ayudarte. (I’ll do whatever it takes to help you.)

Advanced Usage and Nuances

As you progress in your Spanish learning, you’ll encounter more sophisticated uses of lo que that showcase the flexibility of this construction.

You can use lo que to comment on or evaluate a previous statement. Example: —Voy a dejar mi trabajo. —Lo que haces es una locura. (—I’m going to quit my job. —What you’re doing is crazy.) Here, lo que allows the speaker to refer back to the entire action mentioned before.

Another advanced usage involves using lo que with prepositions. Example: Con lo que ganas no es suficiente. (What you earn isn’t enough.) Here, con (with) is the preposition that precedes lo que.

You can also use lo que after other prepositions like por (by/for), sin (without), and de (of/from). Example: Sin lo que aprendiste, no tendrías este trabajo. (Without what you learned, you wouldn’t have this job.)

Practice Examples and Real-World Context

To solidify your understanding, let’s look at some realistic examples of how lo que appears in everyday Spanish conversations and texts.

Example 1: No me gusta lo que dicen en las noticias. (I don’t like what they say on the news.) This sentence uses lo que as a direct object to refer to all the information presented in the news.

Example 2: Lo que más me interesa es viajar. (What interests me most is traveling.) Here, lo que as the subject is modified by más (most) for emphasis.

Example 3: Haremos lo que sea necesario. (We’ll do what’s necessary.) This uses lo que combined with the verb ser to indicate whatever might be required.

Example 4: Eso es exactamente lo que pensaba. (That’s exactly what I was thinking.) Here, lo que refers to the entire idea that was previously mentioned.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even intermediate learners sometimes make mistakes with lo que, so let’s address the most common pitfalls.

One mistake is confusing lo que with que alone. Remember, use que when referring to a specific noun that’s already been mentioned, and lo que when referring to an idea or concept. Don’t say El libro que me gusta if you mean the abstract concept—instead, say Lo que me gusta del libro.

Another error is forgetting that lo que is an invariable construction. It never changes based on gender or number. You always write and say lo que, never la que, los que, or las que in this specific context.

Some learners struggle with understanding that the verb following lo que must agree with lo que, which is treated as a singular neuter entity. Example: Lo que importan son los detalles is incorrect; instead say Lo que importa son los detalles.

Conclusion

Mastering lo que is a significant step toward fluency in Spanish. This versatile relative pronoun construction allows you to express complex ideas naturally and efficiently, just like native speakers do. By understanding the basic structures, recognizing how lo que differs from other relative pronouns, and practicing with real-world examples, you’ll develop the confidence to use this grammar point in any situation. Remember to practice regularly with both written and spoken Spanish, pay attention to how native speakers use lo que in authentic materials, and don’t hesitate to use it in your own conversations and writing. With consistent practice and application, lo que will become second nature to you, elevating your Spanish communication to a more sophisticated and impressive level.